TEENAGE PREGNANCIES ARE AMONG WORST IN UK

TEENAGE pregnancy figures in Wokingham are amongst the worst in the country and anti-smoking schemes some of the least successful, according to latest NHS figures.

Performance figures released last Thursday showed Wokingham Primary Care Trust (PCT) is in the worst 30 per cent for conceptions below the age of 18 and in the worst 10 per cent for stop smoking programmes.

Wokingham PCT chief executive Sue Heatherington, said: "The conception indicators show the rate of change so we have a higher rate of change than the national average — it is measuring percentage changes, not absolute numbers.

"It does not tell us there is a major problem with teenage pregnancies but that the trend is going in the wrong direction.

"This is an issue we are concerned about and we have a multi-agency group in place working in youth areas and schools to help support people in their teenage years.

"Our partners across Wokingham are seeing the most effective places to put in services — such as around schools and places where you would not normally get family planning services for teenagers.

"And we will work out how we can better provide this for teenagers."

The Trust added that the uptake of quit smoking services in the area is low and many people may not use NHS services to give up.

It said it would work with the Smoking Cessation Service on how it can improve figures and focus on spreading the message in schools.

But there is good news too — Wokingham PCT rates highly for appropriately prescribing ulcer-healing drugs and flu vaccinations.

It was also rated highly for keeping waiting lists down - attributed to schemes including working closely with Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust; and using the Windsor Ward in Wokingham Hospital.

l Twenty-one performance indicators — published for the second year by the Department of Health — were grouped into three areas: health improvement; service provision; and access to quality services.

It assessed a range of indicators including waiting times and drug prescription.